Anatoly Shcharansky

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 16

Anatoly Shcharansky

Sir,—The release of Anatoly Shcharansky has been long overdue. Those concerned with the issue of the freedom of circulation of scientists can draw little comfort from Mikhail Gorbachev’s action vsich equates a

scientist as a pawn in a spy-swap. The degradation of Shcharansky in this manner, together with the continued deplorable treatment of others such as Andrei Sakharov, is unlikely to convince anyone of a change of heart. The whole world is the poorer for the' continued repression of such brilliant minds as those of Yuri Orlov and Andrei Sakharov. The continued banishment of Sakharov to Gor’kii is an insult to the spirit of international science. If Mikhail Gorbachev wishes to signal a general relaxation of the repression of dissident scientists and win the respect of the International community of scientists, he must see that the human rights of Sakharov, and regrettably many others, are fully restored. —Yours, etc., B. G. WYBOURNE. February 13, 1986. Sir,—As an organiser, of a petition to Parliament in 1978 and prime mover in a campaign to free Russian dissidents, I was overjoyed to hear that Anatoly Shcharansky has at last been released. Unfortunately, I doubt if this is a sign ,of any softening of Soviet human rights policies, and we are unlikely to see the release of the many thousands of prisoners of conscience. The only crimes of many ■of these socalled dissidents, were to question the Soviet Union’s lack of observance of the Helsinki Accords which were signed in August, 1975. In the relevant clause of the accords, the 35 signatories agreed to observe “the principles of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief ...” One can only hope that Mr Gorbachev will accept the responsibility of this solemn declaration and abide by it. — Yours,’etc., HAZEL TAIT. February 12, 1986.